Dramatic mural is a statement of identity for East Croydon

The Mayor of Croydon, Councillor Maddie Henson, unveiled a stunning 35-metre-long mural outside East Croydon station yesterday [22 April]. Featuring the area’s name, it creates a dramatic welcome for Southern and Thameslink passengers emerging from the station.

The huge artwork was commissioned by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), parent company of Southern and Thameslink, at the suggestion of local residents and passengers. It is part of GTR’s network-wide, multimillion-pound station improvement programme.

South London signwriter Joe Rashbrook designed the giant mural, with input from local rail users, GTR, Croydon Council and Network Rail, whose bridge Joe has painted.

The partners chose Joe’s eye-catching, contemporary ‘street art’ style because it celebrates the area’s vibrant ambience on a grand scale.

Councillor Henson said: “I was really pleased to unveil this amazing mural. It's a remarkable work of art and a stunning addition to East Croydon. I look forward to going past it every day and admiring it.”

Joe Rashbrook said: “I am overjoyed to have had the opportunity to paint this huge artwork outside East Croydon station. It depicts some of Croydon's most iconic buildings on a colourful skyline. This is my largest project so far at nearly 50 square metres. While I was painting, I was approached by many local residents full of excitement for the new artwork at their station. I was overwhelmed with people’s positivity. Thank you to all of the Croydoners who made me feel so welcome whilst painting this mural through the rain, snow and sunshine.”

Chris Fowler, Southern’s Customer Services Director, said: “We’re proud that our station improvement programme could include such an exciting and prominent piece of public art. It’s been a joy to work so closely with the local community and such a talented artist as Joe Rashbrook. I’m sure that as our passengers return to the railway they’ll agree this mural makes their station a more attractive asset for Croydon.

“Thanks to the Council for allowing us to create this stunning street art, and to Network Rail for letting us decorate their bridge in such a dramatic way.”

Shaun King, Route Director for Sussex said: “The new artwork on our bridge outside East Croydon station is a show-stopping addition to the town. This is a wonderful piece of work that will make a difference to the area and highlights how the railway community and stakeholders are working together.

“We own bridges and other structures across the Southern region and not only do these murals make them much nicer to look at, but they also encourage people to respect and look after them.”

Ends

Notes to editors

About artist and signwriter Joe Rashbrook

For more information about Joe Rashbrook and his work, visit his website.

About GTR’s wider station improvement programme

GTR’s network-wide, multimillion-pound improvement programme involves over 1,000 projects, many of which were suggested by local passenger and community groups, at more than 250 stations. While we’re working hard to achieve the punctuality and reliability our passengers rightly expect, we want them to know we are with them all the way and making their stations better places to pass through.

The vast number and range of improvements can be described under three themes:

1. Giving many stations a better ambience by redecorating, planting and installing artwork, often with substantial input from the local community

2. Making stations work better for passengers, improving comfort and safety with new waiting rooms and shelters, seating, lighting, information screens, defibrillators for public use, and accessibility schemes

3. Making stations more sustainable, with schemes such as electric vehicle charging points, secure facilities for cyclists, rainwater retention systems, and even bee gardens.

We’ve created dedicated web pages where passengers and local communities can get updates on what’s happening at their station. They can be found at:

• https://www.southernrailway.com/about-us/our-commitments/improving-your-stations
• https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/about-us/our-commitments/improving-your-stations
• https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/about-us/our-commitments/improving-your-stations

Passengers at East Croydon will also benefit from new seats, platform shelters and refurbished toilets.

Works by local artists have been or will be installed at several other stations in the Borough of Croydon: Purley, Selhurst, South Croydon and Thornton Heath.